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Eating at cut value instead of metabolism reset....?

Bebe6740
Bebe6740 Posts: 57 Member
edited November 16 in Social Groups
Hello,

Quick question regarding the process....

Is doing a metabolism reset a 'must'? I was overeating for a long time and not excercising so I balooned my way up to my current weight- 240lbs- and then found this group. A did quick diets here and there but nothing that was sustained for more than a few weeks at a time, so ate a lot most of the time.

Now I have found amazing success eating at a cut value (TDEE-20%), but I never actually did a metabolism reset eating at my TDEE. Is that something I should have done? Or is it more for those who have been under eating for a long time??

Would it affect my long term success?

Anyone with good results eating straight at a cut value?

Thanks!
Marilyn

Replies

  • MandaLeigh123
    MandaLeigh123 Posts: 351 Member
    I am not an expert and have only been doing this two months but I think the reset is for people who've been doing a low calorie diet for awhile. I think you are good to go starting a cut! Someone can slap my wrist if I am wrong, but group is quiet right now and I wanted to get back to you. Welcome! :D
  • KickboxDiva
    KickboxDiva Posts: 142 Member
    Agree with mandaleigh. And a good rule of thumb is to eat at the least deficit you can while still losing. I started at 223lbs and went right to 12-1400 calories. I lost but felt really bad and tired. My body survived on its own fat stores because I was starving myself. After some time my loss stalled, where to go from there? More cardio? Then what? Faster more dramatic loss is not better. If you can lose at -10% do that, add activity for more reduction. It's better to lose by activity and light reduction. At 240 you should give yourself about a year give or take to reach your goal it will help to keep your metabolism high by not severely restricting early on. Your long term success is actually a great possibility since you are NOT coming from restriction. Wish I had found this site in the beginning.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    While you have the weight to lose to allow for that 20% I think until ready for 80 lbs left, you should be very exact on what it's 20% of.

    20% of an underestimated TDEE, causing an actual 30% deficit is just going to cause problems eventually.

    So for a month, keep great track of what you have eaten, and actual weight loss, and try to keep a steady routine.
    Then from results you can calculate actual TDEE and go from there.

    Oh, if first week doing this is first week doing a diet, then you'll lose big water weight, in which case skip the first week, and only use weeks 2-5 for the math.

    And weigh only on valid days to minimize known expected water weight fluctuations.
    Morning after rest day eating normal sodium levels (not higher or lower than average), not sore from previous workout.
  • Bebe6740
    Bebe6740 Posts: 57 Member
    Thank you all for your input!!

    I've been doing this for 1.5 months now and lifting heavy 3-4 times a week with minimal cardio- also I work from home so pretty sedentary I must say.

    I used the scooby's calorie calculator which puts my TDEE-20% around 2277 calories a day using the moderate activity level (I was inclined to use light active, but was advised on here to use moderate?? Heybales would you agree?)

    I posted my 1 month success on here, and it's apparent I've lost inches in my upper body and my legs are more toned. I did weigh myself after the 1st month and compared to the day prior to starting on this journey, I had actually gone up 3.3 lbs. I'm not freaking out about that or anything, but I did gain so can't turn the blind eye to that (whether it was water, sodium, increased muscle...not sure).

    Now, I'm always worried about whether my TDEE is actually what scoobys suggest, but at 5'7, 240-243.3, 31 years of age...2277 cals sounds about right no?? Just to give an idea of my measurements, i wear a size 18 jeans and now a 16 top (was wearing 18 when I started 1.5 months ago)....

    Anyway, I am in it for the long haul, and yes I have given myself 1 year for the transformation, I'm in no rush :)

    Any more feedback is welcome!

    Thank you all!
    Marilyn




  • Bebe6740
    Bebe6740 Posts: 57 Member
    Oh,

    @heybales I just used the following link to calculate calories and came up with 2100 as TDEE- 15%...... So I guess if I want to eat at TDEE-20% then I should eat 2000 calories?


    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1G7FgNzPq3v5WMjDtH0n93LXSMRY_hjmzNTMJb3aZSxM/edit#gid=0
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Sounds about right as far as math is concerned.

    As long as honest for the time of the workouts, and daily activity during those work hours. So you are between levels is all. Not Lightly, not totally moderate.

    Just honing in faster.

    That would explain why no weight loss - you were eating at potential TDEE.

    So great for workouts and performance gains, not so great for fat loss if that needs to be accomplished at the same time.
  • Bebe6740
    Bebe6740 Posts: 57 Member
    Ok that makes sense! Will modify mfp to reflect new calorie target gaols and eat at that for 4 weeks and then re-*kitten*!

    Thank you!
    Marilyn
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